Gun Reform?

As a Canadian, I have to say up front that I don’t understand the American gun culture.

I don’t understand how it is acceptable that in the first 100 days after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre another 3000 people died from gun violence in the United States.

I don’t understand how it is acceptable that the gun murder rate in the U.S. is almost 20 times higher than the next 22 richest and most populous nations combined.

I don’t understand how it is acceptable that among the world’s 23 wealthiest countries, 80 percent of all gun deaths are American deaths and 87 percent of all children killed by guns are Americans.

I don’t understand how it is acceptable that almost as many civilians are killed with guns in the U.S every seven weeks (over 4,400) as there were U.S. soldiers killed in the first seven years of the U.S.-Iraq war.

I don’t understand how it is acceptable that there can be more civilians killed with guns in the U.S. every two years on average than American soldiers killed during the entire Vietnam War.

I don’t understand how owing a gun makes Americans feel safer when statistics show that for every time a gun in the home is used in self-defense, there are 11 completed and attempted gun suicides, seven domestic criminal assaults and homicides with a gun, and four unintentional shooting deaths or injuries.

I also don’t understand how 91 percent of Americans can support background checks at gun shows, 82 percent be in favour of making illegal gun sales a federal crime; and 57 percent favour an assault weapon ban – and yet American gun reform legislation can’t get through congress.

But then, I am a Canadian and I don’t understand the American gun culture.

About politspectatorEdward Clayton grew up in the US but has lived in Canada for the last 4 decades. He is a long time peace activist and committed to issues of social justice and good government. He reports on Canadian, American, and global politics from a Canadian perspective.

Edward Clayton grew up in the US but has lived in Canada for the last 4 decades. He is a long time peace activist and committed to issues of social justice and good government. He reports on Canadian, American, and global politics from a Canadian perspective.